Romneys' visit to Northboro in spotlight

Saturday

Oct 13, 2012 at 6:00 AMOct 13, 2012 at 2:49 PM

By Priyanka Dayal McCluskey TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Teenagers like to blast their music, and brothers like to compete. So when Reed Nixon used to turn up the volume on the stereo in his bedroom, Robert Nixon, younger by a year, turned up the dial on his boombox.

From two sets of speakers, two different tunes would pump through the air of the Nixon house, on a quiet cul-de-sac in Northboro.

“We'd have volume wars, and I would always win, because my stereo was better,” recalled Reed Nixon, now 34.

Earlier that year, Rob and Reed were in a severe car crash that left both of them paralyzed. They spent months recovering in hospital rooms and rehab. Their story reached many — including Mr. Romney, then a businessman and former U.S. Senate candidate.

Long before he became the Republican candidate for president, Mr. Romney called Rob and Reed's father, Mark R. Nixon, and said he wanted to help. On Christmas Eve, the Romney family paid the Nixon family a visit.

They brought the much-desired stereo system for Rob, and a VCR player for Reed's bedroom, so he could watch movies from his bed.

Though the Romneys brought expensive gifts, the Nixons were more impressed with Mitt and Ann's desire to talk to them and offer moral support.

“They weren't quick to leave, they wanted to stay, interact,” said Reed Nixon, who sits in a customized wheelchair and cannot use his arms or legs.

The Nixon family's story of triumph over tragedy is known locally, but it went national in a big way Thursday night, during the debate between Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Mr. Romney's running mate, U.S. Rep. Paul D. Ryan. Mr. Ryan explained how Mr. Romney helped the Nixons.

“This is a man who gave 30 percent of his income to charity, more than the two of us combined,” Mr. Ryan said, according to a transcript of the debate. “Mitt Romney's a good man.

He cares about 100 percent of Americans in this country.”

The comments came after Mr. Biden slammed Mr. Romney for saying 47 percent of Americans believe they are victims and don't take responsibility for their lives. Mr. Romney's remarks were widely criticized as dismissive of nearly half the country.

But Sheryl Brown Nixon, who spent years caring for her quadriplegic sons after their car crash, believes Mr. Romney's comments were misconstrued.

“I believe he was saying 47 percent of Americans already have their mind made up that they're going to vote for Obama, so I'm not going to try and convince that 47 percent, I'm going to try and convince these others — but then, the spin was put on it,” Mrs. Nixon said.

The Nixons — who received support from many people after the accident — said the Mitt Romney they know is a kind, humble, giving family man; not the uppity out-of-touch multimillionaire he is sometimes portrayed to be.

“They demonize him instead of finding out what his character is,” Mr. Nixon said.

Because of that character, Mr. Nixon plans to vote for Mr. Romney on Nov. 6. Also, Mr. Nixon said, “I feel Mitt Romney is a moderate, and I'm a moderate.”

Mrs. Nixon and son Reed also plan to vote for Mr. Romney. They will be among the minority in Massachusetts, which as a state is expected to go strongly in favor of Mr. Obama.

Mr. Romney stayed in touch with the Nixons for more than a decade, including during his four-year stint as Massachusetts governor. He participated in golf tournaments and road races to support the family. He even offered to pay for Rob and Reed's college educations.

Both families belong to the Mormon church, but Mr. Nixon believes their common religion had little to do with Mr. Romney's desire to help.

The Nixons were inundated with requests from local media yesterday, but they were happy to share their story, over and over again.

Happy is their philosophy. Since their life-changing accident in 1995, Reed and Rob Nixon graduated from high school and college. Rob married and works as a certified public accountant for a major firm in Irvine, Calif. Reed lives with his parents in Northboro, sells sports memorabilia and does a lot of public speaking.

Reed relies on his parents, a nurse or personal care attendant for help every day. Rob's injuries were less severe than Reed's; he can drive a car.

Mrs. Nixon, who has four other children and 16 grandchildren, wrote a book about the family's experience after Rob and Reed were paralyzed.